Scotland - where it's at.

This week I would like to dedicate my post to the ladies behind the Scottish Thyroid Petition (PE01463).

I read a lot of stuff online. Only on days when baby is asleep and my chores are done (or mostly done)(or waiting to be done). Through all the thyroid support group pages and forum chat there is one stark fact that keeps coming up, it simply cannot be ignored. People are not responding well to T4 only treatment.

I say people, I don’t know how many people exactly, I can’t give you a percentage (*perhaps I will do some research after the post is written – the proper way to blog yeah? The answer will be at the bottom of the page, if I find it….) but it is entirely apparent that for a lot of people T4 thyroid ‘therapy’ does not cut it alone.

There seems to be 2 schools of thought on why this is:

1. The medical profession is of the opinion that if the T4 does not work then either your dosage is not optimal or it is not your thyroid causing the problem (anti-depressants anyone?)

2. The affected patients feel that the T4 does not work because the hormones are not completing the process they were intended to. By this I mean that the T4 runs through the body telling pituitary to stop secreting as much TSH, showing blood tests with reduced TSH for the docs to be happy, but the loop has not yet concluded. T4 should be converting to T3, the mojo magic energizer that we all need, but it is not. 

And this is where we are all largely in a grey area. What happens if your problem is that your body does not convert this T4 into T3?

Well, not an awful lot if you speak to my GP and endocrinologist. And it seems that this is the case with the majority of patients that are online too. It is as if the policy maker for treating hypothyroid patients missed the lecture on hormone conversion and no one else was paying attention so policy states that Levothyroxine is the only way to treat primary hypothyroidism.

Oh dear. 

Now, while I fully believe in a holistic approach to health care I respect that not everyone does - but this does not mean they should be subjected to second rate care.

I can honestly say that I feel amazing now that I am taking the medications I need to help my body run well, and I wonder of the worlds health organisations: “Why ruin the lives of thousands who feel at their lowest every day because of poor to non-existent treatment for this illness?” No doubt the answer would come back with the same lines hypothyroid patients have been hearing for years: Low energy? ME, chronic fatigue, depression. Painful joints? Fibromyalgia, or ME. Low mood the same. Dry skin, constipation, poor immunity all entirely unrelated to your pre-existing thyroid condition. We have lotions and potions to cover just about everything....

It is truly a lonely battle when no one will listen to you.

But there is a glimmer of hope and the hypothyroid world is looking on with high hopes.

Earlier this month in our very own bonnie Scotland, 2 women (with a 3rd who was unable to attend) went into the Scottish Parliament and lodged a petition. The aim of this petition is to get adequate testing and treatment of thyroid disorders including T3 levels in bloods, T3 therapy, adrenal checks as well as vitamin and mineral level checks. It is a huge step forward for this community and we will wait and watch with baited breath for updates. You can view the video of this event here.

So, now you know where it's at. And you know what you can do, spread the word. Drop into their facebook for a look and see what the latest developments are: http://www.facebook.com/scottishthyroidpetition

If you want to help, why not write to petitions@scottish.parliament.uk with your own experience on diagnosis and treatment (or lack thereof).

And of course don’t forget to stop by my page too, go on - say hello!! http://www.facebook.com/MyThyroidTherapy

Stay well folks.

*P.S The petition actually answered my earlier question – a Swedish study has found that 70% of patients are not symptom free on T4 therapy only. That is a poor record indeed and entirely unacceptable...in my opinion....

Underestimate at your peril

In my last post I suggested that an underactive thyroid is both misunderstood and underestimated and so here I want to continue with that thought and explain how I underestimated the control this gland has over the entire body.

Basically I thought that swallowing that little 'levo' pill each day would serve me well and adequately treat my newly diagnosed underactive thyroid. As much as I didn’t want to become one of ‘those people’ who are stuck on meds forever (surely a practice reserved for the elderly and really unwell?) I decided to do as I was told for once and get on with the pill popping. Well, I did. And it didn’t get me very far. I had just walked into the trap, swallowed more than the pill and underestimated the illness. 

So my body was getting weak, my mind was failing me, my health was deteriorating. The pills were not working and the consultant told me that these things had nothing to do with my thyroid. And I believed her. That is, until I found out the truth.

I found out that every system in your body is affected by your thyroid hormones. Your immune system, digestive system, metabolism, skin, internal organs, nails and hair, reproductive system…….I had discovered that thyroid hormone is found, and plays an active part in every cell in your body.

And that still blows my mind, all of this activity is going on at a cellular level. I mean I did biology at school and I remember cells. I know they have a nucleus and mitochondria, among other things, but they were all drawings, funny shapes in text books, nothing tangible or even relevant to me. Yet here I am with an illness that is very tangible and it is because of what is happening, or not happening, within those cells. 

But that was just the start of my misunderstanding of this ‘invisible’ illness. Looking deeper into things I found out about some all too real links to heart disease, osteoporosis and poor mental health among other things. These are very serious illnesses and I don't mention them lightheartedly. I feel it is important to highlight that these may be brought on by not looking after a dysfunctional thyroid.

So please believe me when I say that the biggest favour you will do for yourself is to ensure your thyroid is working optimally. Take the hormones you need in order to feel well, and I don’t mean just feel better but feel WELL. Eat foods that will help and not hinder your thyroid. Live an active life that does not include that endocrine disaster, running. Find medical and nutritional support. But above all, do not underestimate the power of the gland!

 

www.facebook.com/MyThyroidTherapy

There's been a misunderstanding...

I spoke with an old friend yesterday, our chat was long overdue because I am rubbish at picking up the phone and calling friends (slapping self on wrists). During the course of our conversation she asked how I was getting on with my thyroid. She really is a lovely person so this was no surprise in itself, but what struck me was the level of genuine concern about my wellbeing whilst dealing with an underactive thyroid. Now, I have to say all of my friends are very supportive of the lifestyle changes I have implemented to help my thyroid but I can’t help get the feeling when speaking to others that thyroid disorders are pretty well misunderstood and largely underestimated.

Let's start with misunderstanding first of all because I think it applies to those suffering from thyroid problems as much as the rest of the population. I mean, out of everyone we should understand this affliction the most - right?

Those of us who are lucky enough to have been given a diagnosis are being told that taking a pill every day for the rest of our life will sort everything out and get us back to good health. We are told this pill is an exact match of the hormone that your thyroid gland secretes so there are no side effects. But the misunderstanding has already started here. The doctors have only partially explained the treatment and this leads to a misunderstanding for the patient (you and me). When we take the tablets and don’t get better we go back to the doctors and are told that it can’t be the thyroid (our bloods are looking ok) so it must be something else. Maybe you are just suffering from depression? Accompanied with IBS? And even chronic fatigue? We can give you tablets for all of those things. (Waaaaaaa STOP NOW PLEASE)

Another misunderstanding comes from the whole eat less/lose weight battle that most of us are fighting. You will be aware that low thyroid function tends to come hand in hand with a slower metabolic rate. And with a slow metabolic rate comes low energy, and with low energy you tend to have inefficient calorie burn.  A triple whammy that helps make up one very vicious cycle. It is not just a case of greed or laziness as is often preceived. (Well, not always anyway). But don't let this make you complacent. It helps to remember that you need to be healthy to lose weight, you don't lose weight to be healthy. That is why I am trying to get my treatment right, speed up my metabolism and slowly build exercise back into my life.... gently.

I do feel strongly about this. We need everyone to be aware of these thyroid misunderstandings. We must work hard to help people recognise the symptoms as well as learn how to control them. I want everyone to feel empowered to optimise their treatment and follow a pro-thyroid diet and lifestyle because next up comes underestimation of how serious this illness can get. And that, my friends, is scary.

www.facebook.com/MyThyroidTherapy

Crazy for the coconut

I do like coconut. I love the smell, the taste – not a huge fan of the water but the rest I enjoy. My shampoo smells of it too, delicious. And so to share another big change in our diet and that was the introduction of coconut oil. 

There have been loads of articles published in health magazines and on wellness websites recently telling of the amazing health benefits of coconut oil and I have to agree with them all, I think it is truly wonderful stuff. And wouldn’t you know, it just so happens to be incredibly helpful for thyroid sufferers like me. Yes, I am happy to say that the word is being spread about coconut oil!

And let me tell you, I cook with it, I put spoonfuls of it in my coffee and I even rub it onto my skin instead of moisturiser. I ingest this stuff any way I can. ‘But, why?’ I hear you ask! Well, I can explain.

For general health it is said to boost your immune system and play a preventative role in diseases such as cancer and diabetes. It also lays a claim to aid recovery from a serious illness: Alzheimers. Oh - and did I mention it will benefit your heart health too? It truly is a wonderstuff (is that is even a real word?).

 An interesting fact for some hypothyroiders is that coconut oil aids in weight loss.

But of course the crucial point for me is that coconut oil helps to support the healthy functioning of the thyroid gland. Quite literally, this makes me (and you) tick.

You see, it would seem that other oils we use, like nut, seed and vegetable oils, inhibit the way the thyroid gland and hormones work and how our body responds to those hormones. By removing these oils from your diet and replacing them with saturated fats like butter and coconut oil, not only will you have a more productive thyroid function but your body will respond better to it. Its a win-win situation!

For some interesting and in-depth reading on this please read this article: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2003/11/08/thyroid-health-part-two.aspx

So what do you think about that then? Are you asking yourself why you dont already have some in your kitchen? I hope so.

http://www.facebook.com/MyThyroidTherapy

Love your liver - Part two

So here I go, no messing about. I am about to make you recoil in horror, send a shiver down your spine. And to cash in a little on the title – that’s right – I am going to talk about how to love your liver, and this time I mean the foodstuff.

How outrageous of me, I know. Disgusting, bloody slime is how it should be named. Or should it? (It's at this point I really hope you continue reading – if you’re about to skip off and find another blog to read because this ain’t your ‘thang’ please hang on for a minute longer because ….well, you just never know what might happen.)

You see, I was recently encouraged to love my liver by eating the stuff because the truth is that liver is highly nutritious. The more I discover about the health benefits of this amazing meat the happier I am that we have introduced it into our diet. 

Basically, when eaten, the nutrients available in liver will boost your own liver function. For example:

Liver is full of B vitamins – B vitamins boost your liver function.

Liver contains vitamin A – vitamin A is an anti-oxidant and helps protect your liver.

Liver contains selenium – selenium is essential for you liver to convert T4 into T3 - (especially important for thyroidians!)

I think you can see where I am going with this….liver is absolutely jam packed full to the brim with vitamins and minerals that will do wonders for your health. And it is also very cheap! Which really helps when feeding a family.

So how did we start? Well I bought some chicken liver from our local poulterer, about 100g initially and added it into a bolognese sauce. I put it in the pan just after the mince and when it was sealed I put in the tomatoes and cooked as normal. Once it was cooked I blitzed the lumps away with my hand blender and served with grated carrot for the adults and gluten free pasta for baby. It was pretty tasty! Go on, I dare you to try it.

Quite importantly, as I was being encouraged to eat liver I was given the prized advice ‘to set one night a week for liver night or you may never get round to cooking it’ so now we have liver every Wednesday night. And a little gem of advice I took from another dear friend was, to aid the healing of a body part, you should eat that same part of an animal.  Good advice for us all there I think.

So that, friends, is a little insight to how I love my liver, and I do it every Wednesday night. You can let me know when you're ready and I will post a liver recipe for you. Bon appetit!

http://www.facebook.com/MyThyroidTherapy

Love your liver - Part one

Everyone has heard of it. You cannot survive without it. You only have one and it is a highly complex piece of machinery. Some people look after it and a few even eat it. I am, of course, talking about LIVER.

This has been the toughest subject to cover yet! I need to share some of the information I have picked up over the past few months with regards to the liver and how important it is. For the first time in my life I have been putting in a conscious effort to look after mine now and I really hope these posts will inspire you to look after yours a little more too! I warn you now though, the subject matter is huge and more complex than I can even start to imagine so I have decided to break it into several articles covering different aspects of liver starting with……

WHY? The eternal question….

To really understand the importance of this amazing organ you need to understand what it does for you, especially with regards to your thyroid. Most of us know it will process the alcohol we consume and are generally aware that we should take better care of it but why?
Well, there are over 500 known functions carried out by the liver (not all known to me personally but science has assured me that this is the case). Indeed, the liver is probably best known for its detoxifying role. But did you know that the liver also has an amazing capability to regenerate itself – like the cockroach that grows back a lost limb, the liver can renew damaged tissue to ensure optimum working capability at all times. ‘Thoroughly amazing’ I hear you whisper. Yet even more importantly, a little known fact is that the liver plays a crucial role in your thyroid function. Let’s get technical….

T time

If you currently take hypothyroid medication, as I do, you are likely taking a set amount of Levothyroxine – AKA T4 (I believe the name comes from the chemical make-up of the hormone, it is not simply a little nickname I have for my tablet). This is meant to replace the hormone that your thyroid would normally generate.

Still with me? Good.

Now, just so you know – T4 is not the only hormone secreted by your thyroid but it accounts for the bulk of hormone released (I understand it makes up approximately ¾ of hormone in the blood. There are other hormones like T1, T2, T3 and calcitonin.). But what’s important is that the T4 hormone will travel round your body in your blood stream and then when it enters your liver it is converted into T3.

This is a big deal, because T3 is what gives you your mojo, it’s the active hormone, the energiser. A lack of T3 can leave you feeling fatigued, drained, possibly depressed…..if you have been there – you know the symptoms.

What I have found is that my T4 pills are not enough. My body was simply not managing to convert the T4 into that glorious and energising T3 and that left my energy levels incredibly low. So what to do?
Well, I believe the better your liver function is, the better your conversion will be and thankfully I was introduced to ways of healing this vital organ. And that, friends, will be covered in the next post. I hope you will join me.

http://www.facebook.com/MyThyroidTherapy

Guilty secrets

It's waaaay past my bedtime. I actually did go to bed but was so restless I had to get myself out of there to maintain my sanity. I made myself a hot chocolate to see if that would help. I thought a wee snack would go down well with my hot chocolate, and I'm feeling ever so guilty about it. Cheese...... on crackers...... 2 of them, and they were tasty. I also had a piece of tablet, pure sugar rush straight to my head - that kinda stuff. Oh yes, it was nice. So, there. I've laid it bare for all to see. My midnight snack and my guilty conscience are now public property.

You see, the problem I have is that I am still in holiday mode and have only made a half hearted attempt at adjusting back to reality. My husband does not go back to work until Monday so that is my back to 'normality' date too.

I often wonder how others manage this slide back into 'the norm'. A week or 2 of indulgence may be enough to get folk off to a flying start in the new year, strictly maintaining new diet or exercise regimes. Or are there those like me, who seem to avoid the inevitable return to reality. I always assume everyone else to be the former and internally chastise myself for not being there too.

 Either way, next week will come around and I will share how we are coping (or not coping as it may well be) but more importantly I hope I can concentrate for long enough to get back on with the story of therapy for my thyroid ....watch this space.